Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE05118’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘KLEOE05118’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; and large daisy-type inflorescences with light orange-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEOE05118’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEOE05118’.

The new Osteospermum is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis, not patented. The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2003. The selection of this plant was based on its attractive ray floret coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEOE 5118 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEOE 5118’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEOE05118’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with light orange-colored ray         florets.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in ray floret color.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum cultivar KLEOE05119, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/583,664, filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Osteospermum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar KLEOE05119 in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar KLEOE05119 had yellow-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the new Osteospermum had shorter peduncles and were not as freely flowering as plants of the cultivar KLEOE05119.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum. This photograph shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum. The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘KLEOE05118’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany during the summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C. and night ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about three months old when the photograph and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar KLEOE05118. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 18° C. to             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About three to             four weeks at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About four to five             weeks at 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright and compact plant habit.             Inflorescences positioned well above the foliar plane.             Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 13 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching,             about three to four lateral branches per plant. Length:             About 12 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Internode             length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 143B to 144A flushed with 166A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 7 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire to crenate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing foliage, upper             and lower surfaces: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 145A. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 146A; venation, 145A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongated             oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences positioned above             the foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets             developing acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences face             mostly upright. Freely flowering habit; about 25             inflorescences develop over time per plant. Inflorescences             persistent. Inflorescences not fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—In Germany, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to autumn.             Early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight to             twelve weeks after planting. Inflorescences last about five             to ten days on the plant.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Color: 145A to 145B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height):             About 2 cm. Disc diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle diameter:             About 8 mm. Receptacle height: About 7 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongate oblong. Length: About 3 cm.             Width: About 4 mm. Apex: Acute to emarginate. Base: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Orientation: Upright to outwardly. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 13 to 15 in a single whorl. Color: When             opening, upper surface: 25B; towards the base, 93B. When             opening, lower surface: 25A. Fully opened, upper surface:             25C. Fully opened, lower surface: 25B.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.             Length: About 6 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter,             base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 30. Color: Immature: 79A. Mature: Apex: 79A.             Mid-section: 83C. Base: 149D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 13 to 16.             Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface:             Pubescent, rough. Color, upper surface: 146B. Color, lower             surface: 146C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; rough. Color: 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther color: 79A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil             length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color:             Close to 143D. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close             to 83A.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm to             6 mm. Color: 200A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermums. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about     35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE05118’ as illustrated and described. 